2. PRESENT PERFECT
We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express
that an action is completed or to emphasize the
result or to indicate that action has not changed
I HAVE READ A BOOK
TODAY I HAVE READ TEN BOOKS
HE HAS GONE TO CANADA
Result (what / how much / how often)
I have written 5 letters.
I have been to London twice.
3. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to emphasize the
duration or continuous course of an action.
I HAVE BEEN READING A BOOK
To indicate the duration of an action that started in the
past
I HAVE BEEN PLAYING TENNIS FOR TWO HOURS
If we use this tense it means that the duration of the
action is long
Duration (how long)
I have been writing for an hour.
4. COMPARISON BETWEEN PRESENT PERFECT AND
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Emphasis on completion
SHE HAS DONE HER HOMEWORK
(Meaning: Her homework is completed now.)
Emphasis on duration
SHE HAS BEEN DOING HER HOMEWORK
Meaning: That's how she has spent her time. It does not matter whether the
homework is completed now.)
5. COMPARISON BETWEEN PRESENT PERFECT AND
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
desired result
I have washed the car.
(Result: The car is clean now).
unwanted side effect
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the
car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the
car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)
6. COMPARISON BETWEEN PRESENT PERFECT
AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
*to express how much time has past since the last time the
action took place
since the last time
I haven't played that game for years. (Meaning: It's years ago
that I last played that game.)
* To express how much time has past since the beginning of
the action
I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10
minutes. (Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I started to
play that game.)
7. CHOOSE :PRESENT PERFECT OR
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
1) This evening I ________ two letters to my
parents (to write)
2) My daughter ________ letters to her friends for
hours (to write)
3) Today Lucy ________ her boyfriend three
times (to phone)
4) My friends ________ around Italy for five
months (to travel)
5) I ________ to music all evening (to listen)
6) I ________ English since I was a child (to learn)
8. 1) Why are you so dirty? I ________ in the garden (to work)
2) I ________ to Malaga for three days with my in-laws (to be)
3) I ________ my homework. Now I am going to rest (to finish)
4) My brother ________ TV for three hours (to watch)
5) John ________ since 3 o'clock (to study)
6) The fatal accident just ________. The police haven't arrived
yet (to happen)
9. 1) ________ you my watch? I have just lost it (to
see)
2) Emma is very tired; she ________ all day (to
work)
3)What weather! It ________ since yesterday (to
rain)
4) This week my team ________ one match (to
win)
5) The police ________ the murderer (to arrest)